britain is a big supporter of turkey joining the eu. there were negotiations within the eu, and first, here is what is at stake. over the past six decades, the eu has expanded from a handful of states to its current membership of 27. the union has evolved into the world's biggest trading bloc. turkey, as well as eight countries, are still hoping to join. it seems a long journey. an associate member since 1963, turkey applied for full membership in 1987 and has been negotiating the terms ever since. under eu law, aspiring member states must comply to ensure that they are politically, financially, and psychologically ready to join. the turkish prime minister has set a deadline of 2023 to invite them to the party. but there is his country's human rights record, the dispute over cyprus, and other obstacles. so why does turkey still want to join it? after a number of unhappy years? my colleague talks to the man responsible. >> minister, after some 25 years of trying to be a full member of the eu, in terms of the formalities of it, the 1980's